Women in Baseball History: Lizzie Arlington

Women in Baseball History: Lizzie Arlington

[Apologies for the delay this week. I have been hard at work, laying out the pages for the book!]

Widely considered to be the first woman to play organized baseball, Elizabeth Stroud (The real name of Lizzie Arlington), began playing for the Reading Coal Heavers, a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898. The game was reported in the Reading Eagle, and this compromises much of what is known about her baseball career:

“The spectators beheld a plump young woman with an attractive face and rosy cheeks. She wore a gray uniform with skirt coming up to the knees, black stockings and a jaunty cap.”

and of course the sportwriter added:

“for a woman, she is a success.”

Lizzie, discovered by legend Ed Barrow, would ultimately serve as a closer, preserving a 5-0 lead to clinch the win for Reading.

[Women in Baseball History is a weekly feature in honor of my book The Legend of League Park, which will be released in April.]

Sorry for the delay. I am having a hard time locating my notes on the images. For these two it is likely (based on the dates) that they are public domain, but I am not 100% certain. If I can locate further notes on it, I will let you know.